Potpourri Part II

Rapeseed Rapture

This post is again a little variety of three different outings and areas. This first shot is what I am going to enter into the Napa Valley Mustard Festival's photo contest. This was my second attempt at the spot. I was here about 3 weeks earlier and got here right when the light was super but changing fast. In my haste to get the camera set up and everything positioned right I shot this with a wrong camera setting and was not aware of it until I pulled the image up on the computer at home. It was a good shot too but the mistake hindered the photo quality enough that I had to come out again and re-shoot the scene. This time around the sky at first was not as dramatic as before but I waited it out and as the sun finally made its way down between the clouds and the hills, the light just got fantastic and wonderfully back-lit the grass and mustard (rapeseed) blossoms.

Storm Breaker

click HERE to see vineyard photos larger.

This winter has brought lots of fog into the valley but with this storm the fog absent and we got some real good cloud action. This is in the Rutherford area of Napa Valley.

McWay Falls III

McWay Falls is a beautiful waterfall that empties out directly on the beach south of Monterey and Carmel at the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Imagine having a home that looks out over this scene. Right behind and above me is the foundation and terrace of what was called the Waterfall House. This was the residence of Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown. When the Browns began to acquire their Big Sur acreage in 1924, Mrs. Brown became acquainted with Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the daughter of a Big Sur pioneer family. In 1962, Mrs. Brown gave the ranch to the state for use a a state park dedicated to the memory of Julia.

I was here last year in January and wanted to come back as with all the rains I knew the falls would be running better.

McWay Falls IV

Time Embedded

click HERE to see larger in gallery

This shot is from Point Lobos which is just 2 miles south of Carmel. Wonderful coves and coastal viewpoints here. Click the link above to see this set larger.

The End of the Beginning

These shots are from a pier on the east side of Clear Lake where I live. I was on my way to pick up my new wine releases at Tulip Hill Winery where I am a wine club member. So I had a little wine and food pairing and then was able to get these shots a little later that afternoon.

Pier into the Future


The Benchmark

Hillside Light

After the wine but before the Pier shots I went up Bartlett Springs Road right behind the winery. It winds up all the way to the top ridges where there are some fantastic views over Clear Lake. Unfortunately I was only able to go about 3/4 the way up as clouds were enshrouding the top and I could not see anything. On my way up though I was able to get this great hillside shot with the shadow play that was happening very fast.

Storm Break over Mt. Hannah

This is on my side of the lake (the west side) looking east towards Mt. Hannah. Some vineyards with great clouds. Click HERE to see this set larger in the Clear Lake gallery. There are a couple more in there that are not in this post.

That's all for now but stay tuned for some flowing creek shots from my hike up Redwood Creek on the Archer Taylor Preserve in Napa County.

Until then, wish me drama in the skies and awesome light.